SWR Baby Blue vs. Baby Blue II

[Ruppert Jacques]

I would appreciate all information about differences between SWR Baby Blue
and Baby Blue II amplifiers (nothing found on the Net)

Best regards

Jacques

[h***@webtv.net]

(Ruppert=A0Jacques) wrote;
I would appreciate all information about differences between SWR Baby
Blue and Baby Blue II amplifiers (nothing found on the Net)
Best regards
Jacques

The Baby Baby Blue is 120 watts in a 1X10" combo plus a tweeter.You can
add an 8ohm extention cab and get 160watts.
The Baby Blue II is 160watts in a 2X8" combo plus a tweeter.It won't
handle an extention cab.
There is also a Baby Blue Head which puts out 120w@ 8ohms ***@4
ohms.





"The Sheriff is Near"

[Gary Rosen]

. The Baby Blue II is 160watts in a 2X8" combo plus a tweeter.It won't
handle an extention cab.

This is not true. I have owned a Baby Blue II for 15 years that I bought
new. The 2x8 is 4 ohms; the head has an output for an extension cabinet
and is rated down to 2 ohms (i. e. paralleling with another 4-ohm cabinet).
I have frequently used it with an 8-ohm extension cabinet (net 2.67 ohms).

- Gary Rosen

[Gary Rosen]

Post by Gary Rosen

. The Baby Blue II is 160watts in a 2X8" combo plus a tweeter.It won't
handle an extention cab.

This is not true. I have owned a Baby Blue II for 15 years that I bought
new. The 2x8 is 4 ohms; the head has an output for an extension cabinet
and is rated down to 2 ohms (i. e. paralleling with another 4-ohm cabinet).
I have frequently used it with an 8-ohm extension cabinet (net 2.67 ohms).

I should note there was also an original Baby Blue prior to the BB II. I'm
not sure what the configuration was so handgunner may have confused the
BBII with that one.

- Gary Rosen

[Ruppert Jacques]

This is exactly what I am trying to figure out: The difference between the
original Baby Blue and the Baby Blue II (not the Baby Baby Blue)

BTW if their is somebody around playing a Baby Blue or a Baby Blue II with a
5string, I would appreciate the feedback on how it works

Regards

Jacques

Post by Gary Rosen

. The Baby Blue II is 160watts in a 2X8" combo plus a tweeter.It won't
handle an extention cab.

This is not true. I have owned a Baby Blue II for 15 years that I bought
new. The 2x8 is 4 ohms; the head has an output for an extension cabinet
and is rated down to 2 ohms (i. e. paralleling with another 4-ohm cabinet).
I have frequently used it with an 8-ohm extension cabinet (net 2.67 ohms).
- Gary Rosen

[justB.]

Post by Ruppert Jacques
This is exactly what I am trying to figure out: The difference between
the original Baby Blue and the Baby Blue II (not the Baby Baby Blue)
BTW if their is somebody around playing a Baby Blue or a Baby Blue II with
a 5string, I would appreciate the feedback on how it works
Regards
Jacques

Post by Gary Rosen

. The Baby Blue II is 160watts in a 2X8" combo plus a tweeter.It won't
handle an extention cab.

This is not true. I have owned a Baby Blue II for 15 years that I bought
new. The 2x8 is 4 ohms; the head has an output for an extension cabinet
and is rated down to 2 ohms (i. e. paralleling with another 4-ohm cabinet).
I have frequently used it with an 8-ohm extension cabinet (net 2.67 ohms).
- Gary Rosen

I believe that Jeff Bonny> who used to post here a while back sent me this
info or I have gleamed it off of the net some time ago.

Here it is:

When the original Baby Blue was upgraded to the Baby Blue II in 1993, the
following changes were made:

Increased power output (160 watts) and power handling,

additional chassis venting, cabinet impedance was changed to 4 ohms (from 8
ohms), BagEnd 8" drivers were replaced by Celestion 8" drivers. In 2001, the
Celestion drivers were changed to Eminence drivers that more closely
resembled the BagEnd 8" drivers in the first Baby Blue.



I believe that the "tweeter" is a 5" speaker.



Size: 14.5"W x 24.5" x 12.5"D

Weight: 45 lbs. Production Period: 1993 to 2003

Final Retail Price: $1399


Are you going to gig out with this combo? >I think it is a very good studio
combo, but I find it a bit sterile for my liking, but if it's the only combo
you have I would use it.
I am not sure if I would crank it and push a low B string through it though;
accompanying an acoustic guitar it would be nice.

This little combo is also useful as an acoustic guitar combo.


Hth

[Ruppert Jacques]

Thank you,

That is exactly the info I was looking for.

I do intend to use the combo for home practice and small gigs with an
acoustic bass where the bass cannot go over the PA.

Your comment of not pushing a B string trough it and of the combo sounding
steril worries me.

I am seraching for a small high end combo with a warm sound and able to
handle a Low B.

Regards

Jacques

Jacques

Post by justB.

Post by Ruppert Jacques
This is exactly what I am trying to figure out: The difference between
the original Baby Blue and the Baby Blue II (not the Baby Baby Blue)
BTW if their is somebody around playing a Baby Blue or a Baby Blue II
with a 5string, I would appreciate the feedback on how it works
Regards
Jacques

Post by Gary Rosen

. The Baby Blue II is 160watts in a 2X8" combo plus a tweeter.It won't
handle an extention cab.

This is not true. I have owned a Baby Blue II for 15 years that I bought
new. The 2x8 is 4 ohms; the head has an output for an extension cabinet
and is rated down to 2 ohms (i. e. paralleling with another 4-ohm cabinet).
I have frequently used it with an 8-ohm extension cabinet (net 2.67 ohms).
- Gary Rosen

I believe that Jeff Bonny> who used to post here a while back sent me this
info or I have gleamed it off of the net some time ago.

When the original Baby Blue was upgraded to the Baby Blue II in 1993, the
Increased power output (160 watts) and power handling,
additional chassis venting, cabinet impedance was changed to 4 ohms (from
8 ohms), BagEnd 8" drivers were replaced by Celestion 8" drivers. In 2001,
the Celestion drivers were changed to Eminence drivers that more closely
resembled the BagEnd 8" drivers in the first Baby Blue.
I believe that the "tweeter" is a 5" speaker.
Size: 14.5"W x 24.5" x 12.5"D
Weight: 45 lbs. Production Period: 1993 to 2003
Final Retail Price: $1399
Are you going to gig out with this combo? >I think it is a very good
studio combo, but I find it a bit sterile for my liking, but if it's the
only combo you have I would use it.
I am not sure if I would crank it and push a low B string through it
though; accompanying an acoustic guitar it would be nice.
This little combo is also useful as an acoustic guitar combo.
Hth
--
Just B.
"I have to go practice now!"

[justB.]

Post by Ruppert Jacques
Thank you,
That is exactly the info I was looking for.
I do intend to use the combo for home practice and small gigs with an
acoustic bass where the bass cannot go over the PA.
Your comment of not pushing a B string trough it and of the combo sounding
steril worries me.
I am seraching for a small high end combo with a warm sound and able to
handle a Low B.

I didn't use this combo with the 5 string and pushed it, but I had used a
Mexi P 4 stringer had it pretty loud in a practice room with a 4 piece band,
and it did fine.

It is a pretty versitile combo.

What are your requirements for the combo you're searching for?$$$?
Size/weight?

I have an Ampeg B100R, although solid state it has a tube like sound, 15"
speaker no tweeter, 100 watts (loud ones at that!), but it is almost 70
pounds and no metal grill (but I suppose you could add one), adaptors for
casters (which I use); or, it's brother BA115 which can be put into a wedge
shape for monitoring your sound? Obviously, I preferred the sound of the
B100R, and the BA115 was too unstable when standing up.

I have also a Bag End 15" (no tweeter) and an Eden400WT; the cab is 44 lbs
and the head is 15 lbs.This kind of setup is versitle (I haven't mentioned
the other stuff I have! lol) but it would be a good start towards your warm
sound, but pricey for some.


You really have to try the combo, and find out for yourself, of course; I
like it, but right now I have other (too many) amps and combos that I like
the sound better for my applications.

[chris costedio]

Hi, I'm Chris, and I'm new to the group.

I am pleased to see a recent disussion about this amp. I just received
a Baby Blue II from Ebay. What follows are my experiences.

1: Ebay.

The thing about ebay is that you could be dealing with a person who is
not a bad person, not a blatant fraud--but simply an imbecile.

2: a 5" nightmare.

As soon I plugged into my BBII, I knew something was wrong. It turns
out the 5" cone 'tweeter' was blown. I pulled it, and it was labeled
Bag End. It was an E5. I have been fortunate to own several Bag End
products over the years; I can tell you that their customer service is
excellent. Once they replaced a 15" for free...on a cabinet I bought
second hand.

I contacted the company and they advised me that the E5 has been
discontinued. They stated that the E5 may go back into production in a
year. If you need a replacement, I quote their e-mail:

The specs on the E-5 are as follows:
Fo: 120.7
QTS: .523
VAS: .723
QE: .689
Xmax" .023"
Cast frame; uses
ferrofluid; 8 ohm
Eff piston diam.: 3 1/4"

***Fortune smiled on me and I won (yea) a NOS E5 on Ebay.UK for .097
pounds sterling (add $40 shipping to San Francisco).

3: Rubbing me the wrong way.

With my new 5" installed, I thought my problems were over. It was not
to be. I could hear the voice coil rubbing on the top 8".

I contacted Bag End again. They replied:

We don't even have specks around for the E-8 anymore. They were made
by
Eminence and were 16 Ohm. I have heard that Orange Co. Speaker in
Garden Grove, CA may have a decent replacement available. (end)

I believe the 16 ohm E-8 was in the first version of the Baby Blue.
The 8 ohm load seems to account for the BBI's 120 watt output.
Further, I have heard that these speakers frequently failed
prematurely due to some type of surround issue.

I pulled the 8" and was sad to discover the name "Celestion" on the
magnet. I do not feel that the designers of this 'reference' amp would
approve of the Celestions. This strikes me as a FMIC decision.

However, musicpartsguru.com sells 8 ohm factory replacement speakers
(made by Eminence, I believe) which are said to provide a sound closer
to what the engineers envisioned than the Celestions (can) will.

When I think of Celestion, I do not think of accuracy, or bass
speakers.

The current replacement speakers are like 60 USD a piece. I will be
ordering a pair soon, unless someone here has a better suggestion!

4: Bag End S-15D.

I have been using the head through this cabinet with an '82 Jazz Bass.
I have to admit it sounds as good as I had hoped it would. I replaced
the pre-amp with a GT because I doubt it had ever been changed. I
always change the tubes when I buy a used amp. Otherwise there is a
unknown factor in your tone.

5: A bit of drive.

I noted that the owner's manual states you can overdrive the tube pre
section of this amp with a clean boost pedal. Has anyone tried this? I
would be interested to hear about it.

Cheers,

C